|
|
Posted by Doc Dave [66.82.9.59] on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 21:33:05 :
Today my neighbor and I were installing a Maxbrake hydraulic over electric trailer brake controller in my 2001 Dodge Ram diesel.
During this process we had to bleed a little air in the front line near the master cylinder where we "tee'd" in a fitting. We were pumping the brakes like normal with a bleed, and near the end all of a sudden the brake went to the floor. Inspection revealed that a steel brake line under the truck ruptured, due to rust.
The truck is 10 years old and exposed to some salt in the winter but not near as much as New England or the upper midwest.
I could only think of what if that had happened next month towing a loaded trailer in the West Virgina mountains? I would have lost the front brakes and the trailer brakes both...egads!
Anyway, we spliced in a piece of new line for now, and this winter I am going to replace all the steel brake lines.
Although I am not a professional mechanic I wonder if it is a good idea in general for others out there to consider doing this as a preventative maintenance thing on trucks 10 years and up, maybe more frequent in the rust belt.
BTW, the Maxbrake has a really nice brake pedal "feel", more like the brakes on the trailer are "one" with the truck.
Follow Ups: